Latest news with #KhaledAbdel-Ghaffar
Egypt Independent
20-04-2025
- Health
- Egypt Independent
Following presidential orders, Egypt's Health Ministry investigates B.Laban chain
The top health and food safety officials in Egypt held a meeting on Saturday to discuss the controversy surrounding the popular chain, following presidential orders to ensure public safety. Egypt's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, met with the head of the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA), Tarek al-Houby, to discuss mechanisms for monitoring food products and the establishments involved in their distribution. This comes to implement Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's orders to ensure the quality and safety of food products circulating in the Egyptian market. The Ministry of Health explained in a statement that Abdel-Ghaffar emphasized the need to swiftly implement President Sisi's directive to address issues of concern to the Egyptian public and take the necessary corrective measures to protect citizen health. The minister affirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the NFSA, on food processing facilities across all governorates to ensure total compliance with health requirements for food products in circulation. The meeting also discussed all procedures and conditions requiring review and correction by violators. The minister ordered the resumption of operations of all branches of food chains that had been closed upon verifying their compliance with the health specifications and requirements announced by NFSA and other requirements, in cooperation with other relevant authorities. Investigating Following complaints from citizens, the statement added that 232 inspections were conducted on the chain's branches and factories in various locations across the country. The statement added that food of unknown origin and expired quantities were found. It also revealed that there were 122 unlicensed establishments. Up to 437 samples were collected from the chain, a percentage of which were found to be non-compliant with Egyptian standard specifications and binding technical regulations. It added that 697 kilograms of various foodstuffs and 70 liters of various beverages and juices were destroyed due to altered physical properties. Approximately 387 cases were filed for reasons related to lack of health requirements or failure of food handlers to carry health certificates. The statement continued that this resulted in legal measures to temporarily suspend these shops until all health and administrative violations are addressed, through the NFSA and the relevant administrative authorities in various governorates. The statement indicated that on April 6, the head of the NFSA held a meeting with one of the owners of and a team of technicians working there. The meeting presented the corrective measures they needed to take, both in their factories and at their points of sale. However, no response was forthcoming regarding taking the necessary steps to address these concerns. In light of the president's directives, the chain's owners were contacted to hold a coordination meeting to clarify the measures required to resume operations and improve the situation as soon as possible.
Al-Ahram Weekly
27-03-2025
- Health
- Al-Ahram Weekly
MPs address doctors' concerns - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
MPs gave the thumbs up to the controversial Medical Liability and Patient Protection law on Tuesday. The approval came only after MPs in coordination with Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar addressed complaints received from the Doctors Syndicate over the draft bill. Abdel-Ghaffar pointed out that though the bill had been approved by the Senate in December without changing controversial articles that stipulated detention, imprisonment, and hefty fines for doctors in cases involving negligence and malpractice, parliament intervened to amend the articles in coordination with the Health Ministry and Chairman of the Doctors Syndicate Osama Abdel-Hai. As a result, Abdel-Ghaffar said, the law strikes a balance between protecting the rights of doctors and patients in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. Abdel-Hai indicated that the Doctors Syndicate had rejected the law as approved by the Senate on the grounds that it imposed pretrial detention, prison sentences, and hefty fines for medical errors. Speaker Hanafi Gebali said the parliament 'was keen to conduct a fruitful dialogue with the Doctors Syndicate and other state health authorities to respond to doctors' demands and address their concerns. My message to doctors in Egypt is that you now have a law that can achieve your ambitions, preserve your rights and ensure the safety of patients at the same time,' Gebali said. He added that 'in its current form, the law aims to create a safe environment for medical staff and provide legal protection for patients at the same time.' Abdel-Ghaffar indicated that the collaboration between MPs, the Health Ministry and the Doctors Syndicate resulted in a version that had numerous gains, and a clear text that was drafted to define medical errors which occur only when a physician violates established professional principles. 'A physician is obligated to provide care based on the patient's health, following established scientific principles and agreed upon medical procedures,' Abdel-Ghaffar said. Upon an amendment submitted by MP Karim Badr Helmi, parliament decided to delete words like 'negligence, recklessness, and lack of caution' from the definition of 'gross medical error'. The final definition of Article 11 now states that 'a gross medical error is a mistake of such severity that it results in certain harm. This includes, in particular, committing a medical error under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other psychotropic substances, or refraining from assisting someone who has been the victim of a medical error or from requesting assistance for him/her, despite being able to do so at the time of the incident, or deliberately practising the profession outside the scope of the specialty and in non-emergency situations.' MPs also amended articles to differentiate between 'normal' and 'gross medical errors'. Article 1 (Clause 10) now states that a normal medical error is one which does not align with established medical principles or violates the ethics and traditions of medical professions, as outlined in relevant laws and charters issued by the Egyptian Health Council. Head of the House's Health Committee Ashraf Hatem indicated that the revised draft states that a Supreme Committee for Medical Liability and Patient Safety shall be established, reporting to the prime minister and shall include members from medical and health institutions. The Supreme Committee shall meet every month upon an invitation from its chairman whenever necessary. Article 10 states that the Supreme Committee shall be responsible for examining complaints filed against medical service providers or facilities regarding medical errors, establishing a database for medical errors in cooperation with unions and relevant authorities, and coordinating with unions and relevant authorities to issue guidelines on raising awareness of the rights of medical service recipients and following up on their implementation. Hatem also highlighted that in response to the syndicate's demands, MPs agreed to eliminate two articles — 28 and 29 — imposing pretrial detention and prison sentences for medical errors in general which had 'sparked uproar among doctors and medical service providers'. Article 28 stated that medical service providers who commit a medical error resulting in harm to a patient will face up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to LE50,000. Punishment will increase to a maximum of two years in prison and/or a fine of up to LE300,000 if the medical error resulted in permanent disability, if the crime occurred as a result of a serious medical error, or if the service provider was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Article 29 imposed pretrial detention for crimes committed by medical service providers during the provision of medical services. MPs decided to amend Article 27 to reduce the fine for medical errors, lowering it from a maximum of LE1 million to a maximum of LE100,000. The article, however, maintained prison sentences for gross medical errors. It now states that 'anyone who commits a medical error that causes real harm to the service recipient shall be punished with a fine of not less than LE10,000 and not more than LE100,000 (instead of not less than LE100,000 and not more than LE1 million). The penalty shall be imprisonment for a period of not less than one year and not more than five years and a fine of not less than LE500,000 and not more than LE2 million, or one of these two penalties if the crime occurred as a result of a gross medical error. Also responding to the doctors' demands, MPs decided to amend Article 20 of the law to stipulate that a government insurance fund be established to insure against risks and damages resulting from medical errors, directly or through contracting with an insurance company. The fund may also contribute to covering other damages that hit the service recipient during or because of the provision of the medical service. Hatem indicated that the fund will cover all doctors working in Egypt, whether Egyptian or non-Egyptian, and will be insured against risks. Chairman of the Doctors Syndicate Abdel-Hai said the amended law largely responds to the demands of the medical community and strikes a balance between the rights and duties of doctors and health providers on the one hand and patients on the other. 'The enactment of this law was long overdue as most world countries have had such laws for 50 years, and that the Gulf states, for example, had enacted them 15 years ago,' said Abdel-Hai, noting that MPs addressed four concerns: the first includes designating the role of the Supreme Committee for Medical Liability as the technical expert for the investigating authorities and courts. The second, he added, is that the law clearly distinguishes between gross negligence and a standard medical error. 'The third is that Article 27 was amended to reduce financial penalties, while the fourth is that an insurance fund will be created to cover damages resulting from medical errors,' he said. * A version of this article appears in print in the 27 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Watani
10-03-2025
- Health
- Watani
Egypt to manufacture Swiss cancer drugs
In a significant step towards enhancing pharmaceutical sustainability and security in Egypt, a partnership agreement has been signed in the New Administrative Capital at the Ministry of Health headquarters between Sandoz and SEDICO Pharmaceuticals to localise the production of cancer treatment medicines in Egypt, marking the transfer of cancer drug manufacturing technology to the country. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar; Chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority Ali Ghamrawy; Hisham Stait, Chairman of the Unified Procurement Authority; Beatrice Schaer, Head of Economy, Science and Culture Affairs; Sameh Elbagoury, Sandoz Egypt Country Head, Olfat Ghourab, Chairwoman at Arab Company for Drug Industries and Medical Appliances ACDIMA, and Adel El Khabiry, Chairman of SEDICO. Dr Abdel Ghaffar confirmed during the signing ceremony that the agreement is a strategic step in transfer of the technology and advanced manufacturing capabilities of the Swiss Sandoz to the Egyptian market. It will see the production of superior quality drugs for treatment of lung, colon, breast, blood and prostate cancers with Egyptian hands, in response to the directives of President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to localise pharmaceutical industries. The result, Dr Abdel-Ghaffar said, should work to improve the quality of life for patients and provide medicines at affordable prices. The Health Minister pointed out that the agreement contributes to improving access to treatments and accelerating the process of drug production and research and development work, which makes the most advanced treatments available in Egypt, reduces cost and dependence on imports, in addition to opening new export markets, and achieving the country's goals for sustainable development by building a sustainable health system. For his part, Dr Ghamrawi, Chairman of the Egyptian Medicines Authority, stressed that the agreement works as a pivotal step in achieving Egyptian self-sufficiency in five basic oncology drugs the sales value of which exceeds EGP371 million, with an import bill of USD10.7 million. He stressed the full commitment of the Medicine Authority to fully support the project by providing all means of technical and procedural support. In his word, Sameh Elbagoury said: 'We are pleased to sign this agreement with SEDICO Pharmaceuticals, one of the leading pharmaceutical manufacturers in Egypt and the Middle East, and a part of the ACDIMA Group, to transfer cancer drug manufacturing technology from Sandoz in Switzerland to Egypt, in line with the Ministry of Health and Population's efforts through Presidential Initiatives and various sectors focused on early cancer detection and treatment. This will help ensure the sustainability of pharmaceutical supplies.' He added, 'Thirteen of Sandoz drugs are part of Egypt's Presidential Initiative for early cancer detection and treatment, five of which will be produced locally, supporting Egypt's Vision 2030.' The partnership aims to improve access to high-quality medications at affordable prices, ensure the stability of the local cancer drug market, and provide training for local professionals to enhance local skills. Watani International 9 March 2025 Comments comments Tags: Angele RedaEgypt Sedico and Sandoz cancer drugs
Watani
18-02-2025
- Health
- Watani
Relief convoy to Gaza
On 16 February, Long Live Egypt (Tahya Misr) Fund launched a humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza. The Fund is a joint venture between the Ministry of Health and Population, the Ministry of Local Development, and civil society organisations. The launching was held at the New Administrative Capital, some 40km east of Cairo, and was attended by Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population; Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel al-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport; Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports; Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; Sherif El-Sherbiny, Minister of Housing and Architectural Communities; Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Foreign Trade, and a number of governors, businessmen, and representatives of civil society organisations. The relief initiative comes within the framework of Egypt's keenness to provide humanitarian aid and relief to support the Palestinian people, as per the directives of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The convoy includes more than 460 trucks that carry some 7,200 tons of food, medicines, medical utilities, and basic commodities. It is expected to reach Gaza at the outset of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan which this year begins on 1 March. Watani International 17 February 2025 Comments comments Tags: Angele RedaEgypt relief convoy to Gaza
Watani
17-02-2025
- Health
- Watani
Health Minister visits injured Palestinians in Egypt for treatment
At the Rafah Crossing on the Egypt-Gaza border, Egypt's Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar inspected the health services offered to injured Palestinians. Accompanying the Health Minister were Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity; Khaled Megawer, Governor of North Sinai; a delegation from the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States; and another delegation from the European Union (EU); in addition to senior government officials. Dr Abdel-Ghaffar spoke to the Palestinian patients, making sure they are receiving all medical care needed, starting with their crossing into Egypt then their move into the appropriate hospitals. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi had given specific directives that injured Palestinians should be provided with fully adequate health support. Once the injured cross into Egypt, they undergo quick preliminary medical assessment in mobile clinics equipped with laboratories; and X-ray, ultrasound, and radiology devices. They are then moved, according to their health condition, to specialised hospitals. Dr Abdel-Ghaffar gave directions that all medical supplies needed for cardiac, orthopaedic, and cancer patients should be made available, also prosthetic limbs for cases that undergo amputations. He also ensured that a team of therapists and psychiatrists are on hand to offer psychological support to the patients who more often than not suffer from trauma on account of the war conditions they lived through. The Health minister also checked that all mandatory vaccines for children from newborns to 12-year-old are on hand; including vaccines for polio, measles, and German measles; vaccination certificate are issued and registered electronically. Watani International 16 February 2025 Comments comments Tags: Angele RedaGaza Warinjured Palestinians moved to Egypt
